metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from white and gray to pink, red, and yellowish due to iron oxides. It has a vitreous to greasy luster, lacks cleavage, and has a specific gravity of around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from white and gray to pink, red, and yellowish due to iron oxides. It has a vitreous to greasy luster, lacks cleavage, and has a specific gravity of around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone or chert is subjected to high heat and pressure, typically through tectonic compression in orogenic belts.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for roadbeds, decorative landscaping, manufacturing refractory bricks, and occasionally as a dimension stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as prominent hills or mountain ranges.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its tendency to break across quartz grains rather than around them, distinguishing it from sandstone.
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